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52 Weeks of Success Karen Cataldo

Anyone who has talked to Karen Cataldo for a few minutes would not be surprised to know that she has worked most her life teaching some emotionally challenged students. Her outgoing, engaging personality is evident as one spends time talking with her. In addition to her challenging full-time position, Cataldo recently added a second one that allows her to profit from her love of socializing.Cataldo, the daughter of Jerry and Nancy Haberberger, graduated from Kane Area High School in 1987. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education/Special Education from Bowie State in Maryland, and later added a Master's from the University of Southern Mississippi, and attended Shippensburg University to become a Supervisor of Special Education.Cataldo's first full-time position was as an Emotional Support Teacher in the Warren School District. While teaching there, she met her husband, Dave Cataldo, who is also a teacher. After marrying, the couple relocated to the York, Pennsylvania, area, where they reside with their children, Drew, 15, Carly, 16, and Katy, 18.Karen Cataldo worked 10 years in the Hanover School District as a Learning Support Teacher. After obtaining her Supervisor of Special Education Certification from Shippensburg, Cataldo accepted a position in the South Western School District. Cataldo is currently a Special Education Support Teacher, a teacher coach of sorts to the district's 24 Learning Support Teachers.While Karen's day job is rewarding, a couple years ago she considered selling jewelry as a side job. "Dave coaches wrestling, so he is always gone in the winter months with that. I needed something to do for myself." She continued, "A friend had a Silpada jewelry party, which I didn't go to, but I checked out the catalog. I thought to myself, 'I could sell this.' It is really quality jewelry, and it sells itself with very little effort on my part."The company was recently sold to Avon for $650 million dollars. Cataldo forsees little change. "They (Avon) promise that Silpada will remain a stand alone company, meaning it will be totally separate from Avon. The thing that Avon brings to Silpada is its global marketing capabilities."Cataldo obviously enjoys her new "job". "I like to meet new people, and to socialize." "It's not a high pressure company, I just usually do a couple shows a month. It's a great way to connect with people and it's a much needed outlet for me."In addition to her school district job, and the jewelry gig, Cataldo still manages to attend the kids sports events and comes up to visit her parents, her brother Tom, and rest of her family a few times a year. Her Mom, Nancy, hopes that the trips could become more frequent. With two jewelry parties booked in Kane before theholidays, she could be getting her wish.